- Reference
- Syn.Pl.Glumac. 1:24 (1853)
- Conservation Code
- Not threatened
- Naturalised Status
- Alien to Western Australia
- Name Status
- Current
Rhizomatous, densely tufted perennial, grass-like or herb, 0.75-2.5 m high. Fl. green-purple, Aug to Dec or Jan to Mar. Loam, black sand. Moist or disturbed areas.
Distribution
- IBRA Regions
- Jarrah Forest, Pilbara, Swan Coastal Plain, Warren.
- IBRA Subregions
- Dandaragan Plateau, Hamersley, Northern Jarrah Forest, Perth, Warren.
- Local Government Areas (LGAs)
- Armadale, Ashburton, Bayswater, Canning, Cockburn, Gingin, Gosnells, Harvey, Kalamunda, Manjimup, Melville, Mundaring, South Perth, Stirling, Swan, Wanneroo, Waroona.
Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)
General Biology. Growth form. Grass. Life form. Perennial, caespitose/shortly rhizomatous. Reproduction. Seed, short rhizomes. Dispersal. Water, animals, machinery, vehicles, footwear, contaminated grain. Photosynthetic Pathway. C4. Toxicity. Pollen is allergenic. Seedbank persistence. At least 9 months. Fire response. Resprouts.
Notes. Widely naturalised. Can invade grasslands, shrublands and wetlands. Establishes in highly disturbed natural ecosystems. Grows in dense stands, displaces native vegetation and capable of having a major effect within the lower strata. Prefers full sunlight. May be allelopathic, with exudates significantly reducing growth of other plants. Spreads quickly under moist soil conditions. Highly tolerant of drought, a wide range of soils and waterlogging, not tolerant of frost. Produces prolific viable seed with some dormancy and uneven ripening. Optimal germination temperatures are between 20 and 30 degrees celsius. Host to several severe pests and diseases. Can form hybrids with Paspalum dasypleurum and P. dilatatum.
Additional information. Origin. South America. History of use/introduction. Stock feed.
Suggested method of management and control. Cut out small populations, ensure rhizome removal. Alternatively, slash and spray regrowth with grass selective herbicide or 1% glyphosate. Follow-up seedling control, spray with 16 ml/L Fusilade® Forte + wetting agent or for generic fluazifop-p (212g/L active ingredient) 10ml/L or + wetting agent. Following any fire event is an optimal time to undertake control. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.
Management Calendar
| Calendar Type | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dormant | U | U | U | ||||||||||
| Active Growth | Y | Y | Y | Y | O | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||
| Flowering | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||
| Fruiting | U | U | U | ||||||||||
| Manual Removal | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| Herbicide Treatment | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.
References
- Brown, K. & Brooks, K. (2002) Bushland Weeds: A Practical Guide to their Management. Environmental Weeds Action Network, Greenwood.
- Burson, B.L. (1992) Cytology and reproductive behaviour of hybrids between Paspalum urvillei and two hexaploid P. dilatatum biotypes. Genome, 35: 1002-1006.
- Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G. & Cousens, R.D. (2007) Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. 2nd Edition. The Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Victoria Park.
- Ishimine, Y., Nakama, M. & Matsumoto, S. (1987) Allelopathic potential of Paspalum urvillei Steud., Bidens pillosa L. var. radiata Scherff., and Stellaria aquatica Scop., dominant weeds in sugarcane fields in the Ryukyu Islands. Weed Research (Japan), 32 (4): 274-281.
- Pacific Islands Ecocystems at Risk (PIER) (2008) Paspalum urvillei Steud., Poaceae. URL: http://www.hear.org/pier/species/paspalum_urvillei.htm - Accessed January 2010.
- Parsons, J.M. (ed.) (1995) The Australian weed control handbook. 10th Edition. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
- Quarin, C.L. & Caponio, I. (1995) Cytogenetics and reproduction of Paspalum dasypleurum and its hybrids with P. urvillei and P. dilatatum ssp. flavescens. International Journal of Plant Sciences, 156 (2): 232-235.
- SDI Health LLC (Undated) Vasey's Grass (Paspalum urvillei) allergy information. URL: http://www.pollenlibrary.com/botany_researchers_maps.php?view=species.php&species=Paspalum+urvillei&common=Vasey's+Grass - Accessed January 2010.
- USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program (2009) Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysimple.aspx - Accessed October 2009.